Full depth partition bottle carrier



June 8, 1965 s. HOLMES FULL DEPTH PARTITION BOTTLE CARRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1963 INVENI'OR Geo/ye .P. HO/Jlf g ATIORNEXS 4x3, PW,

June 8, 1965 G. s. HOLMES FULL DEPTH PARTITION BOTTLE CARRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1963 INVENTOR eaxye 3 //0/m e;

BY Wow,

ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 s. s. HOLMES 3,187,933

FULL DEPTH PARTITION BOTTLE CARRIER Filed April 24, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV ENT OR Geo/ye .5. Home;

ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 Filed April 24, 1963 s. s. HOLMES 3,187,938

FULL DEPTH PARTITION BOTTLE CARRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 1 Val, m 1

ATTORNEYJ United States Patent M This invention relates to a pre-formed collapsiblecar rier and more particularly to a carrier for a plurality of bottles, or other containers, aligned in two parallel rows with three bottles in each row.

It is an object of this invention to provide a carrier having a bottom panel, a pair of opposed upstanding side panels, a pair of opposed end panels and a plurality of full depth partitions for separating adjacent containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrier with a plurality of transversely disposed straps which are integrally connected to the side panels and have the full depth partitions adhesively secured to the straps.

Another object of this invention is to provide each side panel thereof with a pair of partition-forming panels which are connected to each other and one of the partition-forming panels being connected to a first strap and the other partition-forming panel being connected to a second strap such that each strap and the partition-form- 3,187,938 Patented June 8, 1965 forming a collapsible carrier and includes a centrally disposed bottom panel which is foldable along a transverse fold line and is connected to and spaces a pair of side panels. Each side panel is connected to end forming panels along longitudinal fold lines and each end forming panel is provided with a riser panel which extends outwardly therefrom and is connected thereto along a longitudinal fold line. Each of the side panels is further provided with a pair of small, rectangular, transversely spaced strap panels with one of the strap panels being connected along'a transverse fold line to one of a pair of partition -forming panels which are integrally connected together along a longitudinal tear line and the strap panel is further connected to a center keel divider panel along a longtiudinal'fold line. The view also shows areas on part of the strap panels and the adjoining partition-forming panels to which an adhesive has been applied before performance of the first folding step.

, FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank after the first folding step has beencompleted and shows areas on the other partition-forming panel, the other strap panel, the

center keel divider panel and a handle forming panel to ing panel connected thereto provides a full depth trans-.

verse partition for the carrier. v Another object of this invention is -to provide the carrier with'a pair of partition-forming panels for each side wall of the carrier wherein each pair of partitionforming panels is 'integrallyconnected along a weakened tear line and adhesively secured to spaced straps such that upon initial erection of the carrier the partition-forming panels are disconnected by rupturing of the tear line.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of partition-forming panels for each of the side panels of'the carrier with the panels of each pair of panels being connected together and spaced from each other by a center divider member such that upon erection of the carrier the center divider member is disposed -centrally and longitudinally of the carrier and thep'artiti'on-forniing panels are disposed parallel to each other andnormal to the center divider member.

Another object of this invention is toiprovide a paperboardblank for the carrier which includes a bottom panel,

which an adhesive has been applied prior to the second folding step.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank after the second folding step has been completed and shows areas on the handle forming panels and end forming panels to which glue or other adhesive has been applied in preparation for the third folding step.

, FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank after completion of thethird folding step and shows areas on the handle forming panels and riser panels .to which adhesive has been applied prior to a fourth and final folding step.

FIGURE '5 'is a planview of a collapsed .carrier which has been formed from the blank shown inFIGURES 1 through 4. t v

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6, of FIGURE 5 and shows the carrier in a partially erected condition.

FIGURE '2 is a perspective view of the erected carrier, with parts broken I away for clarity, and shows full a side panel connected to the bottom panel, a pair of end 5 forming panels connected to opposite ends of the side panel and a pair of strap panels with one ofjthe strap panels being connected 'to apair ofpartition-forming panels which are integrally connected together Another object of this invention is to provide a onepiece blank for forming the carrier and connecting the pair of partition-forming panels together alonga'weakened tear line such that the partition forming panels are severable from each other along the tear line during initial erection of the carrier.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a one-piece blank for a modified collapsible carrier wherein each side panel is provide'd'with a pairof partition-form- :ing panels which pair of panels is connected together by .a center divider member along parallel fold lines such that upon erection of the carrier the center divider memof apaperboard blank for i .under the bottom panel.

depth partitions extending downwardly into the carrier from transversely disposed, parallel spacers.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken vertically of the carrier along line 88 of FIGURE' 7 and shows the vertically disposed handle extending above the carrier, the view also showing the riser panels at one end ofthe carrier being locked beneath the bottom panel.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a modifiedform of carrier, with parts broken away for clarity, and shows the carrier as being provided with a longitudinally disposed center divider member in addition to transversely disposed full depth partitions.

,FIGURE :10 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional View of the elected carrier, taken on line 1 01t) of FIG URE 9, and shows the spacers being connected to the downwardly dependingpartitions being disposed normal to the center divider member, the view also showing the riser panels at the right side of the carrier as being locked FIGURE His 21 plan view of a paperboard blank from which the carrier shown in FIGURESQ and 10 is erected, and shows a pair of partition forming panels for each of a pair of side .panels being connected together by a center divider member panel with, one of the partition forming panels being connected along a transverse fold line to one of a pair of spacer .panels for each side panel.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular .to FIGURES 1 through 4 there is shown a blank, generally indicated by the numeral 12, for forming a collapsible carrier, generally indicated by the numeral 13, which is shown in FIGURES 5 through '8.

' end forming The blank 12 is preferably made from paperboard, or any other flexible, material, and includes a bottom panel 14 having a transverse fold line 15 and a locking notch 16 at one end of the fold line 15. A pair of side forming panels 17 and 18 are connected to the bottom panel 14 along a pair of transverse fold lines 19 and 20, respectively. The side panels 17 and 18 are each provided with 'a first pair of strap forming panels 21 and a second pair of'strap forming panels 22. Each of the strap forming panels 21 is defined by a pair of longiand 24, a transverse severance line 25, a short transverse tudinally disposed and tranvsersely spaced fold lines 23 v severance line 26 and a transverse fold line 27 which is co-linear with the severance line 26. The strap forming panels 22'are each defined by a pair of transverselyspaced longitudinally disposed fold lines 28 and 29, a transverse severance line 3% and a transverse severance line 31.

Each of the side panels 17 and 18 is defined by the respec tive transverse fold line 19 or 24), .a perforated longitudinal fold line 32, the severance line 25, the fold line 24, a transverse severance line 33 which is co-linear with the severance line31, the fold line 28, severance'line'30 and a perforated longitudinal fold line 34. v

Each of the side panels 17 and 18 is provided along the fold lines 32 and 34 with end forming panels 35 and 36,respectively. Each of the end forming panels 35 is provided with a riser panel 37 which is connected to the side forming panel 35 along a longitudinally extending fold line 38 and has a locking tab 39 at the inwardly disposed end thereof. Each of the end forming panels 36 is provided with a riser panel 40 which is attached to the panel 36 along a longitudinally extending fold line '41. e 1 a t i A handle forming panel 42 is provided adjacent to the sidepanel 17 along the co-linear severance lines 31' and 33- The handle forming panel 42 is connected tothe strap forming panel 22 along the fold line 29, separated from' the end forming panel 36 by an oblique severance line 43 and is connected to the riser panel 40 along the 7 fold line 41.

A handle'forming panel 44 is. provided adjacent to the 7 side panel 18 along the co-linear severance lines 31 and '33. The handle forming panel 44 is connected to the strap forming panel 22 along the fold line 29, separated from the end forming panel 36 by an oblique severance line 45 and connected to the riser panel 40 along the longitudinal fold line 41. Each of the handle forming panels 42 and 44 is provided with a finger receiving opening 46 and is formed by a closed severance line 47. In addition, the handle forming panel 44 is provided with a reinforcing flap 4% which is attached thereto along a transverse fold line 49. i

' Each of the strap forming panels 21 is provided along the transverse fold line 27 with a first flap or partition forming panel 50 and a second flap or partition forming panel 51 which are integrally connected together along a weakened tear line 52. Each flap or partition forming panel 50 is separated from the respective handle forming panels 42 or 44 by a severance line 53 which intersects the fold lines'27 and an extended severance line-54 which'is offset from the severance line 53.

A center keel divider panel 56 is provided for each of the strap forming panels 21 and is attached thereto along the respective fold line 23. Each of the center keel divider panels 56 is separated'from the respective end forming panels 35 by an oblique severance line 57 and is separated from the respective flap or partition forming panel 51 byv a transverse severance line 58. Each of the center keel divider panels is further defined by an oblique severance line 59, which extends between the severance line 58 and the fold line 27, and the transverse severance line 26 which extends between the fold lines 23 and 27. The blankf12, described above, is formed into the collapsible carrier 13 by a sequence of four glueing and folding operations which will become apparent from a consideration of FIGURES 1 through 4.

ing panel 51, which is attached thereto, are'folded along the fold line 27 such that the flap or partition forming panel as overlies the strap forming panel 21 and is adhesively secured thereto.

FIGURE 2 shows the blank 12 after the first folding operationhas been completed and shows selected areas of each of the'strap forming panels 22, handle forming panels 42, fiap or partition forming panels 51, and center keel divider members 56 to which adhesive has been applied in preparation for the second folding operation.

The second folding operation is performed by folding the blank 12, along the fold line 24, so that the partition forming panel 51 overlies and is adhesively secured to the strap forming panel 22 and the center keel divider panel 56 overlies and is adhesively secured to the handle forming panel 42. The second glueing and folding operations also include applying adhesive to the handle forming panel 44 such that the respective center. keel divider member 56 is adhesively secured to the handle forming panel 44. 7

FIGURE 3 shows the blank 12 after the second glueing and folding operations have been completed, and also shows selected areasof the'end forming panels 36, handle forming panel 42 and handle forming panel 44 as having glue applied thereto in preparation for the third folding operation. Glue is also applied to a selected area of the riser panels 37 and to the riser panels 40 so that by folding the blank 12 along the fold lines 32 and 41 the riser panels 37 are adhesively secured to their respective handle forming panels 42 and 44 andthe riser panels 40 are secured to their respective end forming panels 36 and handle forming panels 42 or 44.

FIGURE 4 shows the blank 12 after completion of the third folding operation and also shows the areas which have been glued prior to the fourth and final folding operation. The blank 12 is folded along the fold line 15 to join together the riser panels 37, the riser panels 40, the handle forming panels 42 and 44 and the center keel divider panels 56. The reinforcing flap 48 is then folded along fold lines 49 so as to be adhesively secured to the reverse side of the handle forming panel 42.

Upon completion of the above described glueing' and folding operations the blank 12 has been transformed into the carrier 13 which is in a collapsed condition as shown in FIGURES. It is-in this collapsed form that the carrier 13 is shipped to the customer. It is noted that the partition forming panels 50 and 51 are still joined together along the weakened tear line 52.

FIGURE 6 shows thecarrier 13 in a partially erected form. Opposed forces are applied to the end forming panels 36 at the left-hand end thereof as viewed in FIG- URE 6 and to the right-hand-edge of the side panels 17 and 18. This causes the side panels 17 and 18 to move outwardly away from each other and, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 6, causes each of the partition forming panels 50 to be separated from each of the partition forming panels 51 by rupturing the tear line 52 between each pair of connected partition forming panels 50 and 51. After the tear'line'52' has been ruptured continued the carrier 13 to be erected intothe form shown in FIG- URE 7. The carrier 13 has a tendency to collapse but is kept from doing so by engaging the locking tab 39, on the riser panel 37, to the underside of the bottom panel 14 inwardly of the notch 16. 7

FIGURE 11 shows a paperboard blank, generally indicated by the numeral .70, which is used to form the carrier, generally indicated by the numeral 71, which is shown iii FIGURES 9 and 10. The blank 70 and the carrier 71 dilfer only slightly from the blank 12 and carrier 13 previously described. For purposes of. clarity, the same reference numerals have been used for the elements of the blank 70 which correspond to identical elements of the blank 12. t I a The blank 70 includes a bottom formingpanel 14 having a notch 16 therein along a central fold line 15. t A

. 5 flap pivoted to said strap and forming a first partition therewith; a second flap connected to said first flap, a

second strappivotally connected to said one of said side first side panel 17 and a second :side panel 18 are connected to the bottom forming panel 14 along transverse fold lines 19 and 20. Each of the end forming panels 17 and18 is provided with end forming panels 35 and 36, riser panels 37 and 40, strap forming panels 21 and 22, and a center keel divider panel 56. A handle forming panel 42 and a handle forming panel 44 are each provided with a finger receiving cut-out 46.

Each of the strap forming panels 21, of the blank 70, is bounded on two adjacent sides byintersec'ting fold lines 24 and 27. The distinction between the blanks 12 and 70 is in the elements which are attached along the fold line 27. Each of the strap forming panels 21, of the'blank 7Q, i s connected along its respective fold line 27 to a first flap or partition forming panel 72 which is connected to, and offset from, a second flap or partition forming panel 73 by a divider member panel 74. The divider member 74 is connected to the first flap or partition forming panel 72 along a weakened foldlinei75 and is connected to the second flap or partition forming panel 73 along a weakened fold line 76.

The glueing and folding operations for constructing the carrier 71 from the blank 70 are the same as the glueing and folding operations for constructing the carrier 13 from the blank 12, as previously described. The first folding operation is performed by folding the first flap or partition forming panel 72, the second flap or partition forming panel 73 and the divider member panel 74 along the fold line 27 so that the first flap or partition forming panel 72 overlies and is partially secured to the strap forming panel 21. The remainder of the glueing and folding operations are similar to the second,third and fourth glueing and folding operations previously described with reference to the blank 12 and the carrier 13.

In the final folding operation the divider member panels 74 are brought into face-to-face engagement with each other and while it may be preferable to adhesively secure these members together it is not necessary to do so. In the erected carrier 71 the divider member panels 74 are vertically disposed and underlie the handle forming panels 42 and 44. As is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the divider member panels 74 are disposed longitudinally of the carrier 71 and extend along the bottom panel 14 on opposite sides of each of the partition forming panels 72 and 73. Thus, partitions have been provided not only transversely of the carrier 71 but also longitudinally thereof so that each bottle receiving compartments of the carrier 71 is separated from each of the other compartments.

The novel carrier can be made from paperboard, heavy paper, plastic or other similar materials.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention is well-adapted to carry out the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth, and that there has been provided a one-piece blank for forming a collapsible carrier which is provided with full depth partitions. The carrier provides a pair of parallel rows with each row including three bottle receiving cells, and the full depth partitions separate the adjacent cells in each row suchthat the bottles cannot come into contact with each other at their lower ends. Therefore, breakage caused by vorcicle contact between adjacent bottles, such as occurs in prior art carriers formed of one-piece blanks, hasbeen overcome in an economical and practical manner by using available material of a one-piece blank.

I claim:

1. A pre-formed collapsible carrier having a bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels, and a pair of opposed end panels, the improvement comprising: a first strap pivotally connected to one of said side panels, a first panels and forming a second partition with said second flap.

2. A carrier as defined by claim 1 wherein said first strap is glued to said first flap.

3. A carrier as defined byclaim 1 wherein said first strap is glued to said first flap, and said second strap is glued to said second flap.

4. A pre-formed collapsible carrier having a bottom panel, apair of opposed side panels, and a pair of opposed end panels, the improvement comprising: a first strap pivotally connected to one of said side panels, a first flap pivoted to saidstrap and forming a first partition there- 1 with; a second 'fiap connected .tosaid first flap, a' second strap pivotallyconnected-to said one of said side panels and forming a second partition with said second flap; said first partition and said second partition being disposed normalto SHldOIlGSldC panel when the carrier is in erected form. t I 1 i 5. A pre form ed carrier formed from a one-piece blank having a bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels and a pair of opposed end panels, the improvement comprising: a first strap and a second strap each pivotally connectedto one of said side panels, a first fiap pivotally connected along a fold line to said first strap, a second flap connected to said first flap and glued to said second strap, said first strap and said first flap being positionable to provide a first partition, said second strap and said second flap being positionable to provide a second partition. 6. A pre-formed carrier formed from a one-piece blank having a bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels and a pair of opposed end panels, the improvement comprising: a first strap and a second strap each pivotally connected to one of said side panels, a first flap pivotally connected along a fold line to said first strap, a second fiap connected to said first flap and glued to said second strap, said first strap and said first flap being positionable to provide a first partition, said second strap and said second flap being positionable to provide a second partition, said first flap being connected to said second fiap along a weakened tear line whereby during initial erection of said carrier said first and second flaps are disconnected by rupturing of said tear line.

7. A pre-formed carrier formed from a one-piece blank having a bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels and a pair of opposed end panels, the improvement comprising: a first strap and a second strap each pivotally connected to one of said side panels, a first flap pivotally connected along a fold line to said first strap, a second flap connected to said first flap and glued to said second strap, said first strap and said first fiap being positionable to provide a first partition, said second strap and said second flap being positionable to provide a second partition, said first flap being connected to said second fiap, and offset therefrom, by a divider member, said divider member being disposable longitudinally of said carrier and normal to said first and second fiaps.

8. A blank for a collapsible carrier including a bottom panel, a side panel connected to said bottom panel, a pair of end forming panels connected to opposite ends of said side panel and a pair of strap panels, each of said strap panels being connected to said side panel by a respective pair of longitudinal fold lines, the improvement comprising: a first partition panel connected to one of said strap panels along a transverse fold line and a second partition panel being connected to said first partition panel.

9. A blank for a collapsible carrier including a bottom panel, a side panel connected to said bottom panel, a pair of end forming panels connected to opposite ends of said side panel and a pair of strap panels, each of said strap panels being connected to said side panel by a respective pair of longitudinal fold lines, the improvement comprising: a first partition panel connected to one of said strap panels alonga transverse fold .line and a second partition panel being connected to said first partition panel along a weakened tear line. 7

110. A blanksfor a collapsible carrier including a bottom panel, a side panel connected to said bottom panel, a pair of end forming panels connected to opposed ends of 'said side panel and a pair of, strap panels, each of said strap panels being connected to said side panel by a respective pair of longitudinal fold lines, the improvement comprising: a first partition panel connected to one of said strap panels along a transverse fold line and a second partition panel being connected to said first partition panel by a divider member panel, said divider member panel being connected to said partition panels along parallel longitudinal fold lines. 7

11. A collapsiblecarrier for bottles and the like having two parallel rows of three cells each, said carrier being formed from 'a one-piece blank of flexible'material and comprising, when erected, a pair of opposed side walls, a pair of opposed end walls connected to said side walls, a'bottom locked to at least one of the pair of end walls to prevent collapse of the carrier, a pair of straps disposed transversely of each of said rows adjacent to the top of said side walls, reach of said strapshaving a partition secured thereto, at least one of said straps and one 'of said partitions being integrally connected together along a fold line, each said partition depending from itsrespective. strap for substantially the full depth of said carrier for spacing adjacent bottles and preventing contact therebetween, and a handle member integrally connected to at least one of said straps,

iv 12. 'A'collapsible carrier as defined in claim 11' wherein said carrier is provided with a' center divider member which is disposed longitudinally between said pair of rows, said center divider member extending downwardly for substantially the full depthof said carrier and spacing the adjacent rows of bottles and preventing contact there- 7 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PRE-FORMED COLLAPSIBLE CARRIER HAVING A BOTTOM PANEL, A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE PANELS, AND A PAIR OF OPPOSED END PANELS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A FIRST STRAP PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID SIDE PANELS, A FIRST FLAP PIVOTED TO SAID STRAP AND FORMING A FIRST PARTITION THEREWITH; A SECOND FLAP CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST FLAP, A SECOND STRAP PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ONE OF SAID SIDE PANELS AND FORMING A SECOND PARTITION WITH SAID SECOND FLAP. 